While Clint Eastwood was best known for his iconic westerns made during the 1970s, he also made more unusual contemporary thrillers, of which THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT is a good example. Eastwood plays the leader of a bunch of robbers who are desperate to pull off the ultimate heist with the aid of some unusual weaponry. This is a film which is heavy on the character work and the humour, with oddball but likeable performances from the likes of Jeff Bridges, Geoffrey Lewis, Gary Busey and George Kennedy. Eastwood takes a back seat here, willing to let the younger talent shine, and at times this feels all over the place, treading water and unwilling to hurry itself to get on with the story. However, things seriously pick up for the climax, which goes into unexpectedly dark and moving territory, building to one heck of an ending.
Review of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
